Archive for category: News

If you have been granted a visa to travel to the UK within the next 30 days, in order to collect a biometric residence card, what do you do if you cannot now travel to the UK?

The Home Office has confirmed that if your visa has expired, or is about to, you will be able to apply for a replacement one with revised validity dates. There will be no charge for such a replacement until the end of this year.

You will need to make a request for a replacement visa by contacting the Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre on CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk and you will be contacted once the appointment centres are open again so that the new endorsement can be placed in your passport.

The information you need to supply with your request is set out in the Home Office guidance of 24th April.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents?utm_source=1b9655f9-d25e-405b-b691-29aa736d7a48&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

If you have questions about making a request or about anything else arising from the guidance please email Jenny Harvey on info@jennyharveyimmigration.co.uk

Guidance has been issued to help employers carry out the right to work checks during this time of remote working due to Coronavirus.

Checks must still be carried out but employers can now check the documents of their employees or prospective employees using video calls.

The documents to be checked can be scanned or photographed and emailed to employers who do not at this time need to see the original.

Employers are reminded not to discriminate against employees who are unable to produce the requested documents.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-right-to-work-checks

If you are in the UK and your visa is due to expire between 24^th January and 31^st May 2020 your permission to be here will be extended to 31^st May if you can not leave the UK because of travel restrictions or self-isolation.

You will need to email the Coronavirus Immigration Team and supply details as set out in the guidance.

https://auth.quill-interactive.co.uk/core/login?signin=6db824e8503a11e847880082596b571c

If you are in the UK and want to switch to a visa which you would normally need to switch to in your own county you will make able to make the application here in the UK until 31^st May.

If you have a question about the new guidance and what you should do please email us on info@jennyharveyimmigration.co.uk

The “Global Talent” route has been much publicised by the Government in recent weeks and has replaced the previous “Exceptional Talent Route”.

It is aimed at “talented and promising individuals” in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, humanities, digital technology and arts and culture (including TV, fashion design and architecture) who want to work in the UK.  Applicants must be “leaders in their field” or show that they have “potential to be leaders” and must obtain an endorsement from a Home Office approved endorsing body before applying for a visa or for leave to remain in the UK.

People who already hold leave under the previous “Exceptional Talent Route” and who wish to extend their leave must do so under the new “Global Talent Route”.

People who hold leave under the “Exceptional Talent Route” who are eligible to settle must still do so under the “Exceptional Talent Route”.

Those endorsed under the “Exceptional Talent” criteria of the new route may be eligible to settle after just 3 years though their partners will still need to live here for 5 years to be eligible.

We have now left the EU and are in what’s called the” transitional period”. Almost definitely this will end on 31^st December 2020.

If you have not yet made an application under the new “ Settlement Scheme” it makes sense to think about doing so now.

If you are already in the UK or will arrive here before the end of December 2020, you may have until 30^th June 2021 to apply. But why wait?

Even if you have a permanent residence card you will still need to apply under the scheme as your card will no longer be proof of your status after the end of 2020.

Children will also have to apply under the scheme though they may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship and, once British, will not need to register under the new scheme.

Similarly, some adults may already be eligible to apply for British Citizenship and for information on this or on any aspect of the above please feel free to contact us.